L. gasseri probiotic for women's intimate health?

By Kerry
11th Dec 2015

Women’s intimate health has been revolutionised by recent developments in probiotic research; the identification of specific bacterial strains that colonise in the intimate area has helped to liberate women around the world from the misery of genitor-urinary infections such as thrush, cystitis and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). But which strains are the best to use for your female patients?

Choosing the best probiotic strain for your female patients' intimate health is crucial

Strains that have been shown to be significant for vaginal health include Lactobacillus gasseriDSM 14869,L. rhamnosusGR-1®andL. reuteriRC-14®.L. gasseriis a species commonly found in vaginal flora, though all of these strains have been shown in clinical trials to have a probiotic effect.

Research backs probiotic strains for women's intimate health

Some vaginal probiotic capsules, such as EcoVag® from Bifodan, contain the L. gasseri species; a recent Scandinavian study1 on this product, which also contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus DSM 14870 alongside Lactobacillus gasseri DSM 14869, was conducted using 40 female subjects who were suffering from either recurrent BV or vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The study consisted of two trials: in trial I, women with BV were treated with clindamycin and metronidazole followed by vaginal EcoVag® capsules, containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DSM 14870 and Lactobacillus gasseri DSM 14869, for 5 consecutive days after each antibiotic treatment. in trial II, women were divided into three groups: women with BV who received clindamycin and metronidazole treatment together with the probiotic (for 10 days after each course of antibiotics, then weekly administration of the probiotic capsules for another four months); women with VVC who took both fluconazole and EcoVag® treatment, and finally, women who took just extended fluconazole treatment.

After 6-months, the cure rate for BV was 50 % in trial I, with the 6- and 12-month cure rates were 67 % in trial II. The 6 and 12 month cure rates for VVC were 100% and 89% in women receiving fluconazole and EcoVag®, and 100% and 70% in the women who had taken fluconazole only.These are very encouraging results, and signify another breakthrough in probiotic research for women.

Health professionals looking for other alternatives for their patients may also like to note that the clinical trials supporting our own ‘For women’ product are also very encouraging, with BV resolving in 88% of women who took ‘For women’ alongside antibiotics for just one week.

We use the L. reuteri species in ‘For women’ as, whilst it is not one of the most common residents of the vaginal flora and some doctors labour under the misconception that L. gasseri is a better species because it is more ubiquitous, L. reuteri was isolated originally from sample taken from the genitor-urinary tract of a healthy female subject, and there is far more clinical evidence to support its use in combination with L.rhamnosus GR-1®.The research supporting ‘For women’ is so extensive that we have devoted a whole page to the studies – see the details here:‘Research supporting the use of ‘For women’.

Unlike other probiotics that have to be applied topically in the vaginal area, our ‘For women’ product is taken orally, which makes it very convenient and easy to use. The strains of bacteria have been proven to pass through the intestinal tract and colonise in the vaginal area within days, naturally re-balancing the delicate flora. It’s also vegetarian and vegan, and safe for use by your pregnant and breast-feeding clients.

We are inundated by reviews from delighted ladies who have often reported ‘life-changing’ benefits – see this amazing review from one lady who took this amazing product:

With all of this developing research into probiotic strains for feminine health, It's a great time to be a woman!